Re: Boolean Algebra

This is the definition I learned:

A Boolean algebra is a set $B$, along with two (binary) operations + and $\cdot$, and a unary operation $a \to \overline{a}$ (called complementation), along with two distinguished elements $0,1 \in B$ such that:

Re: Boolean Algebra

Well, I think I understood your reasoning, but instructors can be nit-picky about these things. They want you to get in the habit of being able to get "more formal" if you need to.

The reason for this is: when we "think" in our heads, we often "skip ahead", due to "having seen this sort of thing before". Sometimes, that can lead to overlooking a minor detail, which possibly might "ruin everything" (like if we divide by 0 in doing calculations).

A formal proof, by contrast, is "air-tight", and there is no arguing with it, unless you want to "abolish the rules of the game" (change the definitions).

Re: Boolean Algebra

I tried to master boolean but I failed even though I found few helpful webpages on the way. I seriously admire those that can go through it smoothly like Deveno I will post the links although feel free to move me to a different spot if there is a room for it somewhere else

"The most obvious way to simplify Boolean expressions is to manipulate them in the same way as normal algebraic expressions are manipulated. With regards to logic relations in digital forms, a set of rules for symbolic manipulation is needed in order to solve for the unknowns.
A set of rules formulated by the English mathematician George Boole describe certain propositions whose outcome would be either true or false. With regard to digital logic, these rules are used to describe circuits whose state can be either, 1 (true) or 0 (false). In order to fully understand this, the relation between the AND gate, OR gate and NOT gate operations should be appreciated. A number of rules can be derived from these relations as Table 1 demonstrates.
P1: X = 0 or X = 1
P2: 0 . 0 = 0
P3: 1 + 1 = 1
P4: 0 + 0 = 0
P5: 1 . 1 = 1
P6: 1 . 0 = 0 . 1 = 0
P7: 1 + 0 = 0 + 1 = 1